Written Chris Konen "And with the 21st pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select…..Everette Brown Defensive End Florida State University".
What? Shocked? Appalled at the pick? Don't be. In fact the pick makes too much sense given Andy Reid's history and draft day philosophy. Up until the Jason Peters trade many fans and pundits alike thought it very possible the birds would package both first round picks and move up for a top flight LT. That void is now filled.
We all know Big Red loves to start up front so with a younger bigger revamped O-line the Eagles' staff now feels a need for a stud at left Defensive End. The Eagles struggled to get pressure from that side and it showed in the form of lower numbers for Trent Cole. Chris Clemons came on late in the season but he and Victor Abiamiri give no indication that they are ready to step up and be a force on that side.
In the NFC championship game the Eagles showed they had the fire power to score and move the football offensively, but their inability to throw Kurt Warner off time became their undoing. The Eagles need a stud at LDE and Julius Peppers never became a free agent thus the Eagles will look to draft a playmaker here.
Robert Ayers from Tennessee will likely be gone by number 21 and Reid likes D linemen from FSU. Corey Simon and Broderick Bunkley are proof of that. If Ayers and Brown are both gone, don't be shocked if Reid opts for one of the talented centers to challenge Jamaal Jackson and help add depth to the guard spot. The birds can then save a roster spot with a G/C and have Jackson's eventual replacement.
If neither DE is available and they skip on the Center position look for the birds to back out of the 1st round yet again and pick up a 2nd and regain a 4th round pick. It will lower the potential payroll and give the Eagles a chance to draft DE, C, WR and RB by the 4th round.
Why no RB in the first? It's a deep draft for the position and we know Reid does not value the position. If the team sought to get a compliment to Westbrook they could have made an offer to Derrick Ward. Knowshon Moreno won't be the pick in my opinion.
Look for the Eagles to eye up Donald Brown later if available or Rashad Jennings or Javon Ringer from Michigan State for depth. Reid has never drafted a RB in the first round. Look for him to continue that trend this year. They still have Lorenzo Booker and after spending a 4th rounder for him last year, they will work very closely with him this year to get him on the field.
No WR in the first? Reid isn't afraid to choose receivers high in the draft, he just has a bad track record. Pinkston, Na Brown and Fredex were all chosen in the top rounds. In fact he's taken 5 wr's in the top 3 rounds already, but all were essentially busts. This year lacks top tier talent at the postion.
Crabtree is the only top 10 lock while players like Darrius Heyward Bey, Jeremy Maclin and Kenny Britt round out the first round potentials. Bey has lightning speed but not much route running experience, Maclin is smaller and slower (4.45 as opposed to 4.38) but could be a big play threat.
Britt is the most intriguing player at 6'6" but he runs in excess of 4.6 in the forty and the team already has a player similar in Hank Baskett. Reid can easily say the team passed the ball effectively with it's current group and they are all now healthy. I doubt the Eagles look for a WR as high as fans would hope.
Brandon Petti-who? Forget about the hype of him being an Eagle. This kid most likely will not get past the Lions who were so desperate for a TE they were talking to L.J. Smith. If they take Stafford, Pettigrew bolsters their line and gives them an offensive weapon in one pick.
The Eagles like what Celek gave them in the championship game. Vintage Chad Lewis. With a deeper group of TE's like Chase Coffman and Cornelius Ingram being available later, there should be little doubt the Eagles will draft TE depth in the later rounds.
Look for the birds to go DE in the first round and if not tune in about 3 hours later for their first pick of the day in the 2nd round after they trade away number 21 overall.
All will be revealed in less than a week.
